Pro-Life Groups Hail 'A Major Victory for Life'

(CNSNews.com) - Pro-life groups are commending the "brave decision" of the Susan G. Komen Foundation to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood.

Americans United for Life (AUL) said Komen backed away from Planned Parenthood after the release of AUL's expose, which triggered a congressional investigation into Planned Parenthood.

The Komen Foundation, as a matter of policy, said it does not partner with organizations that are under investigation by local, state, or federal authorities, and that was the reason the breast cancer charity gave for ending its financial support of Planned Parenthood.

Alerted by AUL's report, Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) is looking into Planned Parenthood's finances -- including whether its affiliates use federal funds to perform abortions, something that is prohibited by federal law.

"Join us in thanking the Komen Foundation!" Americans United for Life said in a fund-raising email issued on Tuesday. "Let’s keep the pressure on until Planned Parenthood is completely exposed as the corrupt and pro-abortion organization that it is."

The Family Research Council also applauded the Komen Foundation for putting women's health ahead of the nation's largest abortion provider: "For too long, many people of good will gave money to this foundation to help stop the scourge of breast cancer, not realizing that their money was going to help subsidize the nation's largest abortion provider," said FRC President Tony Perkins in a statement issued Tuesday.

"Planned Parenthood's abortion numbers have increased each year, now at nearly 330,000, despite the fact that the nation's abortion rate has been dropping," Perkins noted. "Planned Parenthood has claimed they provide mammogram services for women but recently admitted they do not.

“Susan G. Komen is right to be concerned about the investigations of Planned Parenthood. The abortion organization has been exposed for covering up statutory rape cases and has a history of Medicaid over-billing and other financial misconduct."

Planned Parenthood announced on Tuesday afternoon that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation would “stop supporting lifesaving breast cancer screening for low-income and underserved women at Planned Parenthood health centers."

Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, called it “a deeply disappointing decision — made even more alarming because politically motivated groups and individuals determined to undermine women's access to care appear to have successfully intimidated the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation to withdraw this critical support."

Richards blamed pressure from "anti-choice groups" for the Komen Foundation's decision. In a letter to Planned Parenthood supporters, she requested an "emergency gift" to make up for the grants that the Komen Foundation is ending. Those grants amounted to about $680,000 last year and $580,000 the year before, the Associated Press reported.

"We know our opponents put their ideology over women's health and lives. What we never expected is that an ally like the Komen Foundation would choose to listen to them."

The Family Research Council is calling on Congress to follow the Komen Foundation’s lead: “If Susan G. Komen can chose to stop subsidizing the abortion giant, surely Congress can redirect its resources to those helping women, not making a profit off the lives of unborn children," Perkins said.

He noted that Planned Parenthood receives some $487 million annually in state and federal taxpayer funds.